The Vatican Information Service is a news service, founded in the Holy See Press Office, that provides information about the Magisterium and the pastoral activities of the Holy Father and the Roman Curia...[+]

Last 5 news

Monday, January 5, 2015

Vatican City, 5 December 2015 (VIS) –
The following is the full text of a note from the director of the
Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., on the creation
of new cardinals in the upcoming consistory, to be held on 14
February.

“Considering the usual number of 120
electors, there were 12 places 'available' in the College of
Cardinals. Although the Pope has slightly exceeded this number, he
has remained very close to it, so it has substantially been
respected.

The most evident criterion is that of
universality. Among the new electors, 14 different countries are
represented, of which six did not previously have a cardinal, and
some have never had one. If the non-electors are also counted, then
18 countries are represented. Among the electors, there are 5 from
Europe, 3 from Asia, 3 from Latin America (including Mexico), 2 from
Africa and 2 from Oceania. There are no new cardinals for North
America (U.S.A. and Canada), since there number is already
significant and has remained stable since last year. (There is a new
Mexican cardinal).

There is a significant presence of
countries that have not had a cardinal (Cape Verde, Tonga, Myanmar),
and of small or minority ecclesial communities. (The Bishop of Tonga
is president of the Episcopal Conference of the Pacific; the diocese
of Santiago of Cape Verde is one of the oldest African diocese; the
diocese of Morelia in Mexico is in a region stricken by violence). It
is notable that there is only one new cardinal from the Roman Curia,
while currently the “Roman” cardinals constitute around a quarter
of the electors. Evidently the Pope wishes to consider the Prefects
of the Congregations and a few other very important institutions of
the Curia, such as the Tribunal of the Signatura. It is confirmed
that the Pope does not consider himself bound by the tradition of
'cardinal sees', that for historical reasons in various Countries
were considered almost 'automatically' linked to the cardinalate.
Instead we see various appointments of archbishops and bishops from
sees that have not had a cardinal in the past. This is true of Italy,
Spain and Mexico.

With regard to the non-electors, the
Pope’s brief introduction is noteworthy: “they represent many
bishops who, with the same care of shepherds”, have served as the
pastors of dioceses, but also in the Curia and the diplomatic
service. Appointment as a cardinal may therefore be a form of
recognition given symbolically to some, but acknowledging the merits
of all.

The youngest of the new cardinals is
the archbishop of Tonga, Msgr. Mafi (1961), who will become the
youngest member of the College of Cardinals. The eldest is the
emeritus of Manizales, Msgr. Pimiento Rodriguez (1919)”.